Formation packer



Aug. 29, 1933. w. T. WELLS FORMATION PACKER Filed June 24, 1932 WMF J 1kb? Y//////////// r 4 78.Mmuw-m Lalo/lc n ../w

Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE 8 Claims.

The present invention is an improved formation packer and relates to that type of well equipment wherein expansible sleeve packing members are carried on a tubular support lowered into a well bore and adapted to be expanded by the weight of the tubing string from which the device is suspended, for the purpose of sealing the space between the tubing and the surrounding formation wall. i

The objects oi the invention include: The provision, in a packer of the characterdescribed, of a passage within the packing elements which will facilitate displacement therethrough of iiuid which in deep wells is often of a density suiiicient to impede or retard movement, in or out, of the packer;

'I'he provision of means for .automatically equalizing hydrostatic pressure on the inner and outer surfaces of said packing elements, thereby allowing said elements to deform in a manner normal to their predetermined shape when under compression; the provision of automatic means,

responsive to longitudinal movement oi' the packer, for opening and closing the by-pass therethrough.

Attention is called to my co-pending application for a casing packer, led June 1, 1932, Serial Number 614,731.

The present invention, while in several respects similar in function to the structure therein described, is better adapted for use in drilled holes before casing is set and is of such slender structure that it is particularly serviceable in bores oi' small diameter.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical central cross-sectional view of my packer, showing the parts-as they would appear in the runin position,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the packer set.

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, are cross sections of Figure 1 taken, respectively on the lines IH, IV, V, and VI, of said gure,

Figures '7 and 8 are, respectively, front an edge elevations oi' a rod member.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing alternate restraining means, yieldable and resilient, for maintaining a by-pass through the 50 packer in open position.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing an alternate form of valve and shows automatic means for keeping said valve closed while the packer is being run in.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1. indicates a tubular support member exteriorly threaded at each end as indicated at 2 and 3. The upper end threads 2 are engaged by a collar 4 and a packing nut 6 adapted to compress vtherebetween backing rings '7, adapted to slid- Communicating with passage 12 are quadri- 70 laterally disposed ports 13, bored obliquely downward through sleeve 8.

The lower end of sleeve 8 is provided with an annular groove 14 for engaging the tapered end of a cylindrical expansive packing member 16 75 which is held in place in any suitable manner. such as by pins 17. y

Any desired number oi' these packing members may be employed. I have elected to show two in the drawing in order to illustrate the man- 30 ner of their connections, one with the other if more than one is used.

A collar 18 is provided with annular grooves 19 to receive the adjacent ends of the packing sleeves 16 and said collar is bored to form a pas- 35 sage 21, similar to passage 12, between said collar and .tube 1.

The lower end oi' the lowermost oi the packing members 16 is engaged in an annular groove 22 in the top of a sleeve member 23; the inner bore 90 of which is of the same diameter as that of sleeve 8. 1

Said bore is enlarged from the bottom ot sleeve 23 to form seats 24 and 26 adapted to complement shoulders 27 and 28 on a'foot member 29 secured to tube 1 by the threads 3. An anchor tube 31 is threaded into ,the bottom of i'oot member 29.

The chain, consisting of packing members 16 and the connectors 19 as well as the sleeve 23, 10 is suspended from the upper sleeve 8 by quadrilaterally disposed rods 32, Figures 7 and 8, each. of which is bent at each end at an angle o! ninety degrees to form hooks 33, one of which engages shoulder 11 of the sleeve 8 and the other engages an annular groove 34 in sleeve 23.

As the packer is run in the well, the i'rictional engagement of the packing '7 between tube 1 and sleeve 8 keeps the parts in the relative pono sitions shown in Figure 2, the rods 32 restraining by-pass within the packing members 16 andy around tube 1.

However, when anchor 31 encounters the bot- 5 tom 36 of the well, weight of the tubing string 9 to which the packer is attached, causes sleeve 8 to move downward with respect to tube 1, as indicated in Figure 2 until seat 24 encounters shoulder 27 on foot member,29-, closing the by- 10 pass completely at the bottom.`

When this occurs, no further movement downward is possible for sleeve 23, and bars 32 engaged therewith become stationary. The Weight of the tubing string is now transmitted to packing members 16 which deform and seal the space between tube 1 and the surrounding surface of the formation as indicated in Figure 2.

The sleeve, descending, moves shoulder 11 away from the hooked portions of rods 32 as indicated in Figure 2.

It is obvious that the rods 32 may be kept in vertical lalinement and in proper spaced relation to veach otherv by cutting keyways, not shown in the outer wall of tube 1, and that they may be 2'5'3- so' positioned as not to obstruct the ports 13.

Operation enters said by-pass at the bottom (26) of the.v

Ssleeve 23 and leaves through: ports 13 'as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

Under ordinary conditions the friction of packing 7 is suicient to keep the: by-pass open. However, gas conditions may be present which 10"5 cause occasional surges upward in the bore,.

which might be of, suflicient velocity to thrust foot member 29 upward. I provide both resilient, and positive means, as alternates, shown in Figure 9. Here a spring 37, of the expansion ltype is interposed between collar 6 and the tapered upper end of the sleeve 8. The thrust of this spring is sufficient to keep the by-pass ope'n. s l At 38 I show a shear pin, of soft brass or other suitable metal, extending through the Wall of sleeve Sand threaded into collar 4. This is a positive means for holding the by-pass open, yet it is yieldable to the weight of the tubing string, shearing oi under said weight and allowing the closure of the by-pass beforethe packer is set.

Which ever form is used the operation is the same. The device is lowered till anchor 31 encounters the bottom 36. '-Thereupon the weight of the'tubing string closes the by-pass, sleeve y 50;T 23 moves downward till seat 26 rests on shoulder 27,-and the weight of the tubing is applied to the-sleeves 16 -which deform as shown in Figure 2 closing the surrounding space within the bore. 35i When the packer is withdrawn sleeve 8 moves upwardtill the hooks 33 on rods 32 are engaged by shoulder. 11, whereupon the sleeve 23 is raised and the by-pass opened so that as the packer is l withdrawn fluid will enter ports 13 and leave the by-pass through the bottom of sleeve 23.

The purpose of the sleeve valve structure shown is toprovide'for a limited degree of movement of the anchor 3l.' Fluid entering the perforations 39 of said anchor 31 might disturb the bottom 5' 3B and cause said anchor to settle,

similar area of 4sleeve 23. It results. from this When this occurs the by-pass is closed and remains so till surface 26 clears shoulder 28. even though the face 24 leaves its seat 27.

In Figure 10, I show an alternate automatic means for keeping the by-pass closed while the packer is being run in and open as it is run out.

In this figure the shoulder 28 of Figure 2 is turned off, leaving the area upon which hydrostatic pressure is effective lessthan that of the structure that, when the packer is lowered, the fluid it encounters will hold sleeve 23 away from foot 29 and keep the by-pass open. 1

I claimz.

l. A formation packer comprising a sleeve member provided at one end with means for engagement with a tubing string and with ports extending through its annular wall, avpacking element, of the sleeve type, secured at one end to said sleevemember, a tubularsupport member extending through said packing member and into said first mentioned sleeve in a manner providing an annular passage between said tube and said sleeves and communicating with said ports, a foot member secured to said tube, a valve sleeve slidable on said tube and connecting with'said' packing member and provided with surfaces com-V plementary to those of said foot` member, whereby said members will co-act to open and close said passage when said valve sleeve is reciprocated.

2. The combination, with the elements set forth in claim 1, of means connecting said first men tioned sleeve with said valve sleeve in a man-` ner resistant toseparation thereof but allowing' a limited degree of movement, under compression, of said valve sleeve.

' 3. The combination, with the elements set forth in' claim 1,` of positive means connecting said rst mentioned sleeve with said valve sleeve effective to resist separation thereof but provided with a degree of lost motion permitting compression of said parts when said positive means have been sheared oif by compressive force applied to" said head and foot members. 4. The combination with the elements set fort in claim 1,-of resilient means'urging said valvev sleeve to its open position.

`5. The combination, with the elements set forth in claim l, of positive means connecting said first mentioned sleeve with said valve sleeve, effectivel to resist separation thereof, but adapted to yield" when compressive force is applied to said mem' bers.

s. The combination, with the elements set forth 130 in claim 1, of resilient means, interposed between' said rst mentioned sleeve and said valve sleeve, effective to resist separation thereof, but adapted to yield when compressive force is applied to said members. 135

7. The combination, with the elements set forth in claim 1, of frictional means, interposed be' tween said first mentionedsleeve and said valve` sleeve, effective to resist separation thereof, but adapted to yield when compressive force is ap`140 plied to said members.

8. The combination, with the elements set forth in claim 1, of connector members engaging said first mentioned sleeve and said valve sleeve, and means,- associated with said connector members, limiting the degree of possible separation of said members but permitting movement thereof, one toward the other.

' WALTER T. a 15C 

